A brief history

Bournemouth Water is established with waterworks in Bourne Valley and a reservoir in Parkstone.

1880s

Works begin at Longham and the first reservoirs and filters are built at Alderney, where Bournemouth Water is now based.

1893

The West Hampshire Water company is established and Knapp Mill in Christchurch becomes a pumping station two years later.

1900s to 1980s

The two water companies expand their supply areas and construct boreholes, reservoirs and water towers. As modernisation takes place, steam-powered pumps are replaced by diesel and electricity.

1989

Bournemouth Water and West Hampshire Water come under a joint majority shareholding through Biwater, a British multinational water engineering group, to take advantage of new opportunities from the privatisation of the former Water Authorities in 1989.

1994

Bournemouth and West Hampshire Water is formed as the two companies merge.

2000

Bournemouth and West Hampshire Water becomes the main part of Cascal, initially a joint venture between Biwater and Nuon, a Dutch utility company. It becomes 100% owned by Biwater in 2008.